Transportation

On May 22nd from 2:30-4:30 p.m., members of the Highline Forum will meet at Burien’s City Hall Council Chambers, 400 S.W. 152nd St. The public is invited to make comments at the start of the meeting. The city of Burien is hosting the meeting and the theme is education with a larger focus around regional partnerships.

The Highline Forum includes the southwest King County communities of Des Moines, Burien, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Tukwila and Federal Way and the Highline School District, Highline Community College and Port of Seattle.

05/15/2013

Press release:

The public is invited to ask questions and offer formal comments on the Draft Part 150 Noise Study for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on May 15 at Cedarhurst Elementary in Burien (611 S. 132nd St.) from 6 - 8 p.m.

The open house and public hearing is set to review the proposed recommendations for minimizing aircraft noise impacts on airport communities.

At this fifth and final public meeting, the public can offer formal comment on the Draft Part 150 Noise Study and required State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) study in writing or with a court reporter.

This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 150 Noise and Land-Use Compatibility Study update is designed to evaluate existing noise levels, predict noise for the next five years, evaluate potential noise mitigation ideas and recommend programs to minimize impacts.

The following are a few of the draft recommendations – based on study input from the community, Port of Seattle Commission and technical experts – which will be described in detail at the meeting: --

05/08/2013

Press release:

The Hyde Shuttle vans are seen nearly everywhere in the Des Moines, Normandy Park and Burien area, taking folks wherever they need to go, and now, you can ride one to the Des Moines Farmer’s Market!

Beginning June 1st, and every other Saturday through October, you can ride a comfortable, clean Hyde Shuttle van from your home to the Farmer’s market and back! The hours are from 11AM until 2PM every other Saturday. Spend the mid day at the market, enjoy lunch, buy fresh flowers or veggies, listen to the fun entertainment on the waterfront. It takes just one call to the Hyde Shuttle office to arrange your ride, and you can call right now! The number is 206-727-6262. The vans are filling up so an early call is best.

The Hyde Shuttle is part of the Senior Service Transportation program and is available to anyone 55 or older, or who has any kind of mobility challenge. The vans can easily accommodate walkers and wheelchairs as well. Companion pets are welcome! There is no cost to the service, but donations are appreciated.

05/08/2013

Damage is estimated at $250,000 from an April 30 fire in the Sea-Tac Airport parking garage. The fire destroyed eight cars and damaged another 10.

Cause of the fire is believed to be mechanical failure in one of the vehicles. Airport staffers will attempt to identify owners through license plate numbers and notify them before they return to the airport.

Smoke from the fire closed one service tunnel and doors were closed in the north end but airport operations remained normal.

The Port of Seattle Fire Department first responded at 7 a.m. on April 30 to the fire on the garage’s sixth floor. Firefighters from the SeaTac Fire Department and other jurisdictions also responded.

05/01/2013

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray joined other officials on Friday, April 26 in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Angle Lake light-rail station to be built at South 200th Street and 28th Avenue South in SeaTac.

Preliminary construction is already underway at Sea-Tac Airport and project construction is set to begin this month. The station is slated to open in September 2016, four years earlier than originally planned.

The sped-up construction schedule is designed to alleviate parking pressure at the Tukwila International Boulevard Station. The new 200th station will feature a 700 parking garage as well as a temporary surface parking lot. The surface lot may go away when light rail is extended to the Kent/Des Moines Road-Highline Community College area in 2023.

The early opening will also coincide with the opening of the University of Washington light rail station. Officials say UW students will be able to go from the Angle Lake Station to the university in 49 minutes on light rail.

04/29/2013

Photo credit:

Sound Transit

An architectutural rendering of the new Angle Lake transit station slated to open in 2016.

Press release:

The Port of Seattle Commission has selected Stephanie Bowman of Seattle to fill the seat vacated by Rob Holland.

Bowman, executive director of the Washington Asset Building Coalition, is the former manager of federal government affairs at the Port of Tacoma.

“We very much look forward to working with Stephanie,” said Commission President Tom Albro. “She has the background and skills to be an outstanding member of our commission and asset to the port. Her in-depth knowledge of port issues will enable her to hit the ground running.”

Bowman’s position on the commission will be on the King County ballot in November, when voters will elect a commissioner to serve a full four-year term.

“We are so appreciative of the tremendous group of applicants who sought the position, especially all the finalists,” said Albro. “Their interest is a testament to our region’s commitment to the port, economic development, growing jobs and the success of future generations.”

04/24/2013

U.S. Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee to speak

Press release:

This Friday Sound Transit will celebrate the start of construction of the future Angle Lake Station and 1.6-mile elevated guideway that will extend light rail service from Sea-Tac Airport to South 200th Street in SeaTac.

The public will have an opportunity to hear about the project construction schedule, as well as view a 3-D animation of the elevated guideway and design illustrations of the station and public art.

When complete, the South 200th Link Extension will include a parking garage, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and a plaza area. Service is scheduled to begin in late 2016, at the same time Link service begins to the University of Washington.

04/24/2013

Photo credit:

Photos by Eric Mathison

Officials participate in the groundbreaking ceremony.

Press release:

Supporters of the Interstate 5/State Route 509 Coalition and the newly formed Puget Sound Gateway Project can now get information and updates online.

The Gateway was formed by Rep. Judy Clibborn (D-Mercer Island) with the announcement of a potential new transportation construction and revenue package earlier this year. The SR 167, SR 509 and I-5 Puget Sound Gateway Project would relieve traffic congestion and improve freight mobility by completing the long-planned SR 167 and SR 509 corridor connections to I-5.

The new website for the SR 509/I-5 portion of the project was produced by the coalition, which includes the Port of Seattle, the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Normandy Park, SeaTac and Tukwila, area chambers, labor and business interests that will benefit from the improved access and new job creation.

The website is online at www.TimeFor509Now.org and includes an option for organizations, businesses and individuals interested to get involved and add their names to the list of supporters.

04/19/2013

List of 509 project supporters also released

Press release:

Gov. Jay Inslee has joined more than 90 community, business, labor and civic leaders in urging lawmakers to approve a new round of transportation improvements and projects.
Inslee and representatives from the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle, area legislators and long-time SR 509 and SR 167 stakeholders convened at the Port of Tacoma near the proposed SR 509/SR 167 Gateway project.

This project will significantly improve freight mobility for area businesses and connect the state’s largest ports to key distribution centers in King and Pierce Counties and to Eastern Washington.

Among the list of supporters of the SR-509 extension project are the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Tukwila, Federal Way and Kent.

Additional 509 project supporters are the Port of Seattle, Teamsters Local 174, International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 19, Professional & Technical Employees Local 17, Shuttle Express and Kent Chamber of Commerce.

04/15/2013

Press release:

Beginning Monday, April 15, Sea-Tac Airport neighbors can offer formal comment on the draft Federal Aviation Administration Part 150 Noise and Land-Use Compatibility Study and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review for this study.

The Part 150 Study is designed to evaluate existing noise levels, predict noise for the next five years, evaluate potential noise mitigation ideas and recommend targeted programs to minimize impacts on airport communities. The 45-day comment period is scheduled from April 15, 2013 to May 30, 2013.

These are also the dates for the environmental review comment period under SEPA. For information on ways the public can provide formal input and for all documentation connected to the study and the environmental review process, including a link to the complete draft study, visit the study’s website.

The fifth and final public meeting on the Part 150 Study and the SEPA environmental review is scheduled for May 15, 6 to 8 p.m., at Cedarhurst Elementary School (611 S. 132nd Street) in Burien.